The waters of the San Francisco Bay are set to become significantly cleaner with the San Francisco Bay Ferry's latest move towards electrification. The agency was recently awarded a $12.5 million grant from the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) to transition the Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal in Alameda to zero-emission service. This generous funding falls under the umbrella of CalSTA's Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP), with the grant specifically slated for establishing an electrified universal charging float complete with battery storage and electric vessel charging infrastructure.

"SF Bay Ferry is committed to providing the region with the nation's first zero-emission fleet of fast ferries and we are making tremendous progress thanks to this latest investment from the Newsom Administration," SF Bay Ferry’s Board of Directors Chair Jim Wunderman stated in an announcement by the San Francisco Bay Ferry. The project aligns with the state's goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also nods to the foresight of Ron Cowan, Harbor Bay's developer and a key figure in the founding of SF Bay Ferry, who passed away in 2017. "He foresaw a San Francisco Bay known for its extensive, world class ferry system," said Wunderman, reflecting on Cowan's enduring legacy.

Complementing the state grant is a previous $5 million award from the California Energy Commission and another $4 million in local matching funds, collectively bolstering the infrastructure needed for the full electric transformation of the Harbor Bay service. This endeavor is part of a broader Rapid Electric Emission-Free Ferry (REEF) Program that SF Bay Ferry champions. This initiative also includes operational safety improvements and increased electric vehicle charging options for ferry service users. Additionally, the REEF Program emphasizes community impact by partnering young adults from disadvantaged communities with the Working Waterfront Coalition, offering them job opportunities within the marine construction and maintenance sectors.

With over 2.5 million passengers transported overall and more than 268,000 on the Harbor Bay route in the past year alone, this shift to battery-electric propulsion is expected to be significant. Altogether, SF Bay Ferry has secured approximately $154 million in funding from local, state, and federal agencies for the REEF Program. The program's scope encompasses acquiring new battery-electric vessels, retrofitting existing diesel ferries to zero-emission standards, and upscaling the maintenance facilities on Alameda's Central Bay.